Adjustable chairs



Nov. 24, 1959 P. s. FLETCHER ADJUSTABLE CHAIRS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 9, 1956 jezzer SiewafFeCer INVENTOR.

BY Z 2% zornelgs.

NOV. 24, 1959 P, s, FLETCHER 2,914,114

ADJUSTABLE CHAIRS Filed Feb. 9, 1956 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 52 465/ 1 55 d o 5.9 I @QE o 5 J IN VEN TOR.

BY WW Nov.l 24, 1959 P. s. FLETCHER 2,914,114

ADJUSTABLE CHAIRS Filed Feb. 9, 195e s sheets-sheet s IN VEN TOR.

Unit-ed States Patent ADJUSTABLE CHAIRS Peter Stewart Fletcher, Boynton Beach, Fla., assignor to Anton Lorenz, Boynton Beach, Fla.

Application February 9, 1956, Serial No.` 564,478 16 Claims. (Cl. 155-106) This invention relates to adjustable chairs of the type which employ a leg rest therewith.` l

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of each lever is pivotally connected by a pin 12 to one An object of the invention is to provide an improved l and novel adjustable chair, which has a leg rest normally disposed beneath the seat Vbutwhch-will be automatically .elevated and advanced into a leg supporting position in front of the` seat of the chair, when the chair4 is Voperf e ated` into a tilted position, with which the leg rests will be normally and `automatically returned to `its position beneath the forward partoffthe seat, when the chair is adjusted into its sitting position, which willfbe4 `comfortable -to` the user, in both'` sitting and tilted positions, i,

which may be adjustedbetween sitting `and tilted positions with a minimum of voperating elort, and which will be relatively simple, practical, durable, compact, convenient and inexpensive.`

Other objects and `advantages will be -apparentfrom the following description of `several embodiments ,of the invention, and the novel features will beparticularly claims.. ,t j t In the accompanying drawing: 5. l Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation through a `chaircou- ,pointed out hereinafter in connection with the appended vstructed in` accordance with this, invention, ,the `chairrbeing in sitting position, and the section being taken Vfrom ,front to rear, just insidethe sidearm nearestk the viewer;

Fig.2 is asimilar sectional ,elevation of the same, nafter `the chair has been adjusted into tilted position;

Fig.Y 2a is a schematic diagram of v the `-lazy tong devices used .in the same to support thelegrest; j Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation similaryto Fig. l, but illustrating a modification of the same; d y

Fig, 4ris a viewysimilar to` Fig. 3, but after the chair has been adjusted into; its tilted position;

Fig. 4a is arschematic diagram of thelazy tong linkage" employed -in -thechair illustrated in Figs-3- and 4; Fig.v 5 Yis-a view similarto Fig. l, but,illu strating a modification of the linkageiofthe lawzytong devices;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but withthe chair adjusted into its tiltedposition; and l. `j

Fig. 6a is a schematicdiagram illustrating thelinkage .employed in the lazy tong supports for theleg rest as f shown in Figs, 5 and 6.

In `the embodiment of the invention illustrated inFigs.

l, 2 and 24a, the chair Yhas-aA frame` or support` 1 with side arms 3 spaced apart, andy with a seat 3` and back rest 4 forming a combined, rigid unit that is disposed beneathV the forwardpart 'ofthe seat-`3 when the chair is l in a sitting position,such as shown in Fig. 1. f The seat and backrest unitl is pivoted,at the bottom of the back rest, by pins 9 vto the upper ends of levers 10,

one at each side of the` backjrest, but only one is illusend of an adjacent actuating link 13.

, There are four pairs of links at each side of the seat, forming a lazy tong device at each side of the seat. Links 14 and 15, hinged together at 16, form one pair of links, and link 14 is pivoted by pin 17 to the under side of the seat 3. Links 18 and 19, which are hinged together at 20, form another pair of links, and link 18 is pivoted by pin 21 to the under side of the seat 3. Links 22 and 23 which are hinged together at 24 form still another pair of links, and link 22 is pivoted by pin 25 to the leg rest 8. Links 26 and 27 which are hinged together at 28 form the fourth pair of links, and the link 26 is pivoted by pin 29 to the leg rest 8. The links 15 and 18 cross each other, and at their crossing they are pivoted together by pin 30. The links 23 and 26 also cross, and at their crossing they are pivoted together by a pin 31. The free end of link 19 is pivoted by pin 32 to the vfree end of the link 27. The free end of link 23 is pivoted by pin 33 to the free end of link 15. The link 1-9 is extended and its extension 19E is pivoted by pin 34 to an intermediate part of link 23.

The actuating link 13 is pivoted by pin 35 to an intermediate partof link 14. A guiding link 36 is pivoted at one end by the pin 17 to the seat 3, and at its other end by pin 37 to a lug 38 on a cross frame member 5 on the support 1. 'Ihese guiding links 36, one'at each side of the seat, serve to support the forward part of the seat from .clockwise in Fig. 1, so that the seat and back rest move both rearwardly and downwardly, to the positions shown in Fig. 2. During this movement, the guiding link 36 will guide the forward part of the seat 3 rearwardly. At

tratedsincethe linkage isthe same at each sidey of 4the y;

seat and back rest. The levers 10 are mounted on a the same time, the actuating link 13 will be moved endwise (to the left in Fig. 1) and it rocks the link 14 clockwise and causes an extension of the adjacent lazy tong device, which elevates and advances the leg rest 8 to a position in front of and spaced from the seat, as shown in Fig. 2. When the back rest and seat are moved forwardly tofreturn them to the positions shown in Fig. l, the actuating link 13 will move the adjacent link 14 in the opposite direction and contract the lazy tong device to return the leg rest 8 to its normal position beneath the forward part of the seat.

If desired, an auxiliary leg rest 39 may be employed. It has a rigid bracket arm 40 which is pivoted by the pin 29 to the main leg rest 8. -A link 41 is pivoted at one `end by pin 42 to the bracket 40, and at its other end by `the pin 31 to one of the links of the lazy tong device, such as to the link 23 of one of the pairs of links. The auxiliary leg rest 39 will normally extend rearwardly from the upper edge of the main leg rest 8, when the latter is 'beneath the forward part of the seat, but when the lazy tong devices are operated to elevate and advance the main leg rest, the auxiliary leg rest will also be elevated and advanced to a position between the main rest 8 and the forward edge of the seat, as shown in Fig. 2, where its upper surface is an approximate continuation of the upper surface of the main rest 8.

In the example of the invention illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 4a, the chair has the support 1 with side arms 2, seat rest 3, back rest 4, cross frame members 5 and 6, legs 7 and a leg rest 8. The seat 3 and back rest 4 are separate elements, and both are pivoted on a common rod 9 carried by the support 1. The back rest extends below the rod 9 and its lower end at each side of the seat is pivoted by pin 10 to one end of an actuating link 11. Links 44 and 45, which are hinged together at 46, form one pair of the links, and link 44 is pivoted by I pin 47 to the under part of the seat 3. Links 48 and 49 which are hinged together at 50 form another pair of the links, and link 48 is pivoted by pin 51 to the under part of the seat 3. Links 52 and 53 which are hinged together at 54 form still another pair of the links, and link 52 is pivoted by pin 55 to the leg rest 8. Links 56 and 57 which are hinged together at 58 form still another pair of the links; and link 56 is pivoted by pin 59 to the leg rest 8. The links 45 and 57 are also pivoted together by pin 60 and links 49 and 53 are pivoted together by pin 61. 4

In this example, the link 44 is extended beyond its hinge 46 and this extension 44E is pivoted by pin 62 to an intermediate part of the link 49. The links 49 and 57 cross each other and at the crossing are pivoted to each other by pin 63. The link 53 is extended beyond its hinge 54 and this extension 53E is pivoted by pin 64 to an intermediate part of the link 56. A guiding link 65 at one end is pivoted by pin 66 to the support 1, and at its other end by pin 46 to the hinge between the links 44 and 45. The actuating link 11 is also pivoted by the hinge 46 to the pairs of links. With this arrangement, when the back rest 4 is rocked rearwardly on rod 9 into the position shown in Fig. 4, it will shift the actuating rod 11 to the left and cause an extension of the lazy tong device to which it is connected, and this will cause an elevation and advance of the leg rest 8 to a position in front of the seat 3, as shown in Fig. 4. The guiding link 65 will pull upwardly on the linkage which is connected to the seat, and this will elevate the forward part of the seat. When the back rest is returned to its upright or sitting position, it will move actuating link 11 to the right and retract the connected lazy tong device. This will lower the seat and return the leg rest to its normal position beneath the forward part of the seat. l

In the example of the invention shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 6a, the seat 3 and back rest 4 are connected together to form a single rigid unit, as in Figs. 1 and 2, and they are pivotally connected at each side by pins 70 to the upper ends of levers 71. The levers 71 are mounted on a common rod 72 carried by the support 1, and each at its lower end is pivoted by pin 73 to one end of an actuating link 74. The support has cross frame members 75 and 76, and legs 77. There are four pairs of links at each side of the seat 3, which links are interconnected and also connected to the leg rest 8 and to the seat to form an extensible lazy tong device at each side of the seat that supports the leg rest from the seat.

Links 78 and 79 which are hinged together at 80 form one of the four pairs of links, and link 78 is pivoted by pin 81 to the seat 3. Links 82 and 83 which are hinged together at 84 form another pair of the links, and link 82 is pivoted by pin 85 to the seat 3. Links 86 and 87 which are hinged together at 88 form still another pair of the links, and link 86 is pivoted by pin 89 to leg rest 8. Links 90 and 91 which are hinged together at 92 form still another pair of the links, and the link 90 is pivoted by pin 93 to the leg rest 8. The links 79 and 91 are pivotally connected by pin 94, and links 83 and 87 are pivotally connected by pin 95. The link 79 is extended beyond its hinge 80 and this extension 79E is pivoted by pin 96 to an intermediate part of link 82. The link 83 is extended beyond pin 95, and this extension 83E is pivoted by pin 97 to an intermediate part of link 91. The link 90 is extended beyond its hinge 92, and this extension 90E is pivoted by pin 98 to an intermediate part of link 87.

A guiding link 99 is pivoted at its lower end by pin 100 to a lug 101 on cross frame member 75, and at its upper end it is pivoted by pin 102 to an intermediate part of link 82, and the actuating link 74 is also pivoted by pin 102 to link 82. When the seat and back rest are moved rearwardly from the sitting positions shown in Fig. to the tilted positions shown in Fig. 6, the levers 71 will rock in a clockwise direction to lower the back rest and rear part of the seat, and also move the actuating link 74 to the left (in the drawings) or a direction forwardly of the chair. The link 74 will rock link 82 clockwise and cause an extension of the adjacent lazy tong device that elevates and advances the leg rest to a position in front of the seat. At the same time, the guiding link 99 is moved from the inclined position shown in Fig. 5 to the upright position shown in Fig. 6. The lowering of the rear edge of the seat by the levers 71, tilts the seat downwardly and rearwardly. When the seat and back rest are moved forwardly again, the levers 71 will elevate the back rest and rear of the seat, and by operating the actuating link in the other direction, will retract the adjacent lazy tong device and hence return the leg rest to its position beneath the forward part of the seat. At the same time, the elevation of the rear part of the seat by levers 71 will tilt the seat back into its sitting position.

In each of the examples of the invention, there are four pairs of links in each lazy tong device at each side of the seat, and these pairs of links are operatively connected by means which includes at least one extension of one of the links. In the example shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 2a, links 18 and 19 form the iirst pair of links, one link of which is pivoted to the seat. Links 14 and 15 form the second pair of links, one of which is also pivoted to the seat. Links 22 and 23 form the third pair of links, one of which is pivoted to the leg rest. Links 26 and 27 form the fourth pair of links, one of which is also pivoted to the leg rest. The extension of one link is the extension 19E.

In the example shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 4a, links 44 and 45 form the first pair, one of which links is pivoted to the seat. Links 48 and 49 form the second pair, one of which links is also pivoted to the seat. Links 52 and 53 form the third pair, one of which links is pivoted to the leg rest. Links 56 and 57 form the fourth pair of links, one of which links is also pivoted to the leg rest. There are two extensions of links which are extensions 44E and 53E.

In the example shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 6a, links 78 and 79 form the rst pair of links, one of which links is pivoted to the seat. Links 82 and 83 form the second pair of links, one of which links is also pivoted to the seat. Links 86 and 87 form the third pair of links, one of which links is pivoted to the leg rest. The links and 91 form the fourth pair of links, one link of which is also pivoted to the leg rest. There are three extensions of links in this example, and these extensions are 79E, 83E and 90E.

It will be understood that various changes in the details and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention, as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An adjustable chair comprising a support, a back rest and a seat carried by said support and movable on said support between sitting positions and-tilted positions, a leg rest disposed beneath the forward part of said seat, four pairs of links at each side of the seat, the links of each pair being hinged together, one of the links of each of the rst and second pairs being pivoted to said seat for sup- 'port therefrom, and one link of each of the third and fourth pairs of links being pivoted to said leg rest, each of the other links of each of the first two pairs being pivoted to one of the links of the third and fourth pairs,

vand one of the links which is unconnected directly to said seat being extended and pivoted to an intermediate part of a link of another pair, means by which operation of said back rest into its tilted position will automatically cause an operation of the pairs of links at each side of said seat to elevate said leg rest to a position in front, and at approximately the level of said seat, and return ,of `saidfback rest to` its `sitting position will cause-a return' of said leg rest to its position below` the front part of said seat, and a link pivoted to said support and operatively connected to said seat for supporting the seat and guiding it into and out of its tilted position.

2. An adjustable chair comprising a support, a back rest and a seat carried by said support and movable on said support between sitting positions and tilted positions, a leg rest disposed beneath the forward part of said seat, four pairs oflinksat each side of the seat, the links of veach pair being hinged together, one of the links of.V each of the first and second pairs being pivoted to said seatfor support therefrom, and one link of each4 of the third and fourth pairs of links being pivoted to said leg rest, each ofthe other links of each of the first two pairs being pivoted to at least one ofthe links of the third and fourth pairs, and at least Aone of the links which is unconnected directly to said seat being extended and pivoted to an intermediate pa'rt of a link of another pair, and means by,whichfoperation of said back restV into its tiltedposition will automatically cause an operation of the pairs of links at each side of said seat to elevate said leg rest to a position in front, and at approximately the level of said seat, and return of said back rest to its sitting position will cause a return of said leg rest to its position below the front part of said seat, said extension of at least one of the links of one of the pairs of links being extensions of those links of the first and second pairs which are unconnected to said seat, and an extension ofthat link of the fourth pair which is pivoted to an intermediate part of that link of the third pair that is unconnected to said leg rest, the extension of a link of the first pair being pivoted to an intermediate part of that link of the second pair which is pivoted to said seat, andthe extension of a link of the second pair being pivoted to that link of the fourth pair which is connected to a link of said first pair.

3. An adjustable chair comprising a support, a seat and a back rest mounted on said support for rocking between sitting and tilted positions, a leg rest disposed adjacent and below the forward part of said seat, and a linkage system near each side of said seat connecting said seat and leg rest and supporting the latter entirely from said seat, each system having four pairs of links, with the links of each pair pivoted together, the first and second pairs of links each having one link of the pair pivoted to and depending from the seat, and the other link of each first and second pair extending forwardly from said one link of its pair, with the depending links of said first and secondpairs arranged in tandem and spaced apart forwardly and rearwardly, the third and fourth pairs of links each having one link of the pair pivoted to the leg rest and extending rearwardly therefrom and the other link of each of the third and fourth pairs extending upwardly and forwardly from its pivotal connection to said one link of its pair, the upper ends of the said other links of the third and fourth pairs being pivoted to the forward ends of said otherV links of said first and second pairs, one said other link of the third pair being pivoted to the forward end of one link of the first and second pairs and one said other link of the fourth pair being pivoted to the forward end of the other link of the rst and second pairs, one link of one of said first and second pairs being extended from its pivotal connection to the other link of that pair to one link of the other of the first and second pairs and pivoted thereto, and one link of one of the third and fourth pairs being extended beyond its pivotal connection to the other link of that pair and pivoted to a link of the other pair of the thid and fourth pairs, an actuating link articulately connected at one end to the back rest and at its other end to a link of one of the first and second pairs which is pivoted to said seat, and a supporting link articulately connected at one end to said support and at its other end to said actuating link for supporting the forward part of said seat and movable upon forward actuation of said actuating link to elevate the forward part of said seat.

. 4. The chair as set forth in claim 3 wherein said one link of one of said first and second pairs that is extended is the link of said first pair that is pivoted to said seat and is pivoted to that link of the second pair which extends forwardly from the lower end of the link of the second pair that is pivoted to said seat.

5. The chair as set forth in claim 3 wherein the said one link of one of the third and fourth pairs which is 6. The chair as set forth in claim whereinfalso the `said one link of one of the third and fourth pairs which is extended is that link of the fourth pair which is pivoted to the forward end ofa forwardly extending link of one of said first and second pairs, and which extension is pivoted to that'link'of the other one pair of said third andv fourth pairs that is also pivoted to said leg rest.

7. The chair as set forth in claim 3, wherein said one link of one of ysaid first and second pairs that is extended is said forwardly extending link that is pivoted to the forward one of said depending links with such extension of said forwardly extending link being in a rearward direction and pivoted at its rear end to the depending link of the other pair of said first and second pairs.

8. The chair as set forth in claim 3 wherein said one link of the third and fourth pairs which is extended is a link Which is pivoted directly to the leg rest and which is extended rearwardly and pivoted to an intermediate part of the length of that link of the other pair of one of said third and fourth pairs which is pivoted to the forward end of a forwardly extending link of one of the rst and second pairs.

9. The chair as set forth in claim 7 and also wherein said one link of the third and fourth pairs which is extended is a link which is pivoted directly to the leg rest and which is extended rearwardly and pivoted to an intermediate part of the length of that link of the other pair of one of said third and fourth pairs which is pivoted to the forward end of a forwardly extending link of one of the first and second pairs.

10. An adjustable chair comprising a support, a seat and a back rest mounted on said support for rocking between sitting and tilted positions, a leg rest disposed adjacent and below the forward portion of said seat, and a linkage system near each side of said seat connecting said seat and leg rest and supporting the leg rest from the seat, each system having two links pivoted to and depending from said seat and spaced apart in front and rear arrangement, two links, each pivoted to the lower end of a depending link and extending forwardly therefrom, and forming with the depending links two pairs of pivotally connected links, two links pivoted to said leg rest, one above the other and progressing rearwardly therefrom, two further links, one of which pivotally connects therear end of one of the links that are pivoted to the leg rest to the forward end of a said forwardly extending link, the other of which further links pivotally connects the rear end of the other of said links, that are pivoted to the leg rest, to the forward end of the other said forwardly extending link, one of said two further connecting links having an extension that is articulately connected to one of the said forwardly extending links which is directly pivoted to the leg rest, one of the links of one of said pairs of pivotally connected links being extended beyond its pivot to the other link of that pair and its extension pivotally connected to a link of the other of said pairs, means connecting said back rest and each linkage system and operable to extend the system forwardly and elevate the leg rest and move it forwardly when the back rest is moved into its tilted position and means 7 connecting said support and each linkage system for elevating the-system and through it the forward part of the seat when it is extended forwardly.

1l. The chair as set forth in claim 10, wherein said ir'st -mentioned extension of a link is one of the links that connects one link which extends rearwardly from the leg rest with one of the said forwardly extending links, which extension is pivoted to the other link which is pivoted to and extending rearwardly from the leg rest, said extension being pivoted to its said other link intermediate of the ends of that other link.

12. The chair as set forth in claim 10 wherein the second link extended is the forward one of the said depending links and is pivoted to the forwardly extending link from the other depending link.

13. The chair'as set forth in claim 11 and also wherein the second link extended is the forward one of the said depending links and is pivoted to the forwardly extending link from the other depending link.

14. The chair as set forth in claim l0 wherein said rst extension is of the upper one of the links that is pivoted g. to the leg rest and which extension is pivoted to an intermediate part of that link which'is pivoted to the rear end of the other link which is pivoted to the leg rest.

15. The chair as set forth in claim 10 wherein said second extension is a rearward extension of the forwardly extending link that is pivoted to the forward one' of the depending links, and which extension at its rear 'end is pivoted to an intermediate part of the other depending link.

1.6. The chair as set forth in claim 14, and also wherein said second extension is a rearward extension of the forwardly extending link that is pivoted to the forward one of the depending links, and which extension at its rear end is pivoted to an intermediate part of the other depending link.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,664,942 Spear Jan. 5, 1954 20 2,693,845 Hoifrnan Nov. 9, 1954 2,750,988 Luckhar'dt June 19, 1956 

